The Other Diabetes

We know a tremendous amount information about Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and our efforts to manage the disease seem to continue to develop and expand. But, there is another type of diabetes that we still don't know enough about. Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults, aka, LADA is topic I certainly don't fully understand. LADA is an autoimmune disease characterized by age, positive antibodies, a gradual increase in insulin requirements and decreasing ability to make insulin as indicated by a low C-peptide.  People with LADA eventually need to use insulin as a form of managing there blood sugars. I have only come across a handful of patients with LADA. My first patient was a 30-year-old woman with a history of hypothyroidism and a family history of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. She presented with elevated triglycerides and an A1c in the 'prediabetes' range. She managed to control her blood sugars with diet and exercise for about six months, yet slowly her blood sugars began to creep up and she was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. After being treated with metformin for about six months her blood sugars were still not at goal and her A1c continued to rise. Her endocrinologist tested her c-peptide levels and islet cell antibodies to find that her c-peptide was low and her antibodies were positive. She was diagnosed with LADA and placed on an insulin pump. During this time, this young woman was discouraged and frustrated - she continued to feel like it was her fault. Perhaps i...
Source: About Diabetes - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news